Essential Football

In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Ben Ransom, Nick Wright and Ron Walker to discuss another eventful weekend of Premier League football, while Simeon Gholam gives his analysis on the race to win promotion from the Championship.PART ONE | Fresh from covering the news of Rafael Benitez's sacking at Everton, Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom brings us all the latest developments from Goodison Park. What went wrong for Benitez at Everton and what could be next for the Merseyside club?PART TWO | Sky Sports football features writer Nick Wright and Sky Sports football writer Ron Walker talk through the other big talking points from the weekend. Manchester United's issues remain after letting a two-goal lead slip at Aston Villa. The pair also give their views on the relegation battle after Norwich's win against Everton and Newcastle's draw with Watford, plus Man City's win against Chelsea and the postponements in the Premier league that are causing plenty of debate.PART THREE | Finally, Alice is joined by Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gholam to take a closer look at the race to reach the Premier League from the Championship. Who are the contenders and how is their form looking as we approach the business end of the season? Simeon gives his verdict...

In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Nick Wright, Charlotte Marsh, and Peter Smith to preview this weekend’s Premier League action. Plus we hear from Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith ahead of the north London derby. PART ONE | Alan Smith delivers his north London derby verdict ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham and explains why the midfield battle will be key after the Gunners’ tiring battle with 10 men at Liverpool on Thursday. PART TWO | It’s first vs second in the Premier League on Saturday when Manchester City host Chelsea. Is this the London club’s last chance to stay in touch with leaders City? And could a win for Thomas Tuchel’s side open the door for Liverpool, too? Plus we look ahead to Philippe Coutinho’s Aston Villa debut, with Steven Gerrard’s men facing an out-of-sorts Man Utd for the second time in a week. PART THREE | Jarrod Bowen is in fine form and we take a look at the numbers behind his recent purple patch and discuss how it is driving West Ham back into the top-four race after their dip in December. Ahead of their match with Leeds we also examine how injuries have made life tough for Marcelo Bielsa this season. And finally, will Brighton or Crystal Palace come out on top in their rivalry showdown on Friday night?

In the first Essential Football Podcast of 2022, host Alice Piper is joined by Nick Wright and Richard Morgan to dissect an action-packed New Year’s round of Premier League fixtures which delivered, goals, drama, and may just have determined the destination of the title. PART ONE | Has Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool stolen the game of the season title? Has the Premier League seen a better goal than Mateo Kovacic’s volley this season? Why Thomas Tuchel had no choice but to discipline Romelu Lukaku for his inflammatory interview. Plus, why Man City were the real winners at Stamford Bridge PART TWO | Manchester City may not have been at their best at the Emirates but showed exactly why they are champions as Rodri’s dramatic late winner sealed an 11th-straight league win. The panel analyse exactly how City have emerged through a hectic festive period so far in front, and the unlikely series of events needed to deny them the title PART THREE | Arsenal’s valiant defeat against Man City shows just how far the Gunners have come under Mikel Arteta; Antonio Conte continues to install steel at Spurs; West Ham underline top-four credentials; New Year, same old problems at Everton; Plus big wins for Brentford and Leeds United

Throughout his 17-year career at Liverpool, Jamie Carragher was an authoritative leader who never shied away from speaking his mind.Those qualities have helped lay the foundations for his transition into punditry, a job many ex-players try their hand at, but one few master.From delivering an iconic soundbite at the precise moment on the gantry, to having your finger on the pulse and setting the agenda in the studio, the life of a pundit involves balancing the unpredictable emotions of football with meticulous preparation.In this edition of Off Script, Jack Wilkinson gets Carragher to reveal the secrets which have helped his become one of the country’s most-eminent pundits – and ahead of the competition…

In the latest Essential Football Podcast, host Alice Piper is joined by Ben Ransom and Gerard Brand to discuss an eventful weekend of Premier League football, despite only four games taking place. PART ONE | Was Spurs 2-2 Liverpool the game of the season? Why Liverpool's weaknesses make for an outstanding spectacle, plus analysis of Man City's 4-0 win over Newcastle and another slip up for Chelsea PART TWO | Arsenal shine again at Leeds, but do they really need a new striker given Gabriel Martinelli's form? Are Leeds in trouble? And would football really benefit from a Covid circuit-break?

On this week’s show we hear from former Tottenham defender Michael Dawson, and Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports football journalists Gerard Brand, Ben Grounds and Adam Bate to look ahead to the Premier League weekend. PART 1 | After a series of postponements, Tottenham return to the field against a flying Liverpool side on Sunday. Just how hard is that as a player? Michael Dawson tells Sky's Kate Burlaga about the challenge facing Antonio Conte’s men.PART 2 | Arsenal had a good midweek, moving fourth in the Premier League table with a win over West Ham. Can they stay there? Gerard Brand discusses their prospects. Plus, Ben Grounds tells us about his sitdown with Marcelo Bielsa in the wake of Leeds’ awful 7-0 defeat at the hands of Man City. PART 3 | Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s side are on the title charge, with seven wins in a row. Adam Bate explains how the manager’s way of playing allows City to go on such devastating winning streaks – and, at the other end of the table, what their opponents this weekend, Newcastle, must do to stay up.

Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports Digital Football Journalist Ron Walker and stat-guru Data Editor Adam Smith to review the weekend's Premier League action and look forward to a busy midweek in the top flight.PART 1 | In a tale of three penalties, the panel consider whether it's Manchester City's title to lose after a sixth straight league win, and whether old foes Manchester United's new manager bounce is already over after an underwhelming win at Norwich. Plus the Premier League's handball rule gets a grilling, and following on from the final-day F1 drama the team come up with their best last-minute rule changes for the Premier League...PART 2 | Steven Gerrard's emotional Anfield return ended in defeat, but did his former club Liverpool show their title credentials in grinding out another 1-0 win? In spite of a late victory over Leeds, did Chelsea showcase their issues at the back again - and how worried should they be? Plus on another bad day for Rafa Benitez the panel analyse what's going wrong at Everton, and assess another stellar performance from Crystal Palace's Conor Gallagher.PART 3 | Is this the end for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's captaincy after another Arsenal indiscretion? Adam Smith makes the case for being patient with the young Gunners, while the team ask whether there's any time to wait for Newcastle after another bad result at Leicester. Plus: The midweek preview with big games on the cards for Burnley, West Ham and Watford.

Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports football journalists Ron Walker, Charlotte Marsh and Ben Grounds to look ahead to the Premier League weekend. PART 1 | Ralf Rangnick’s start at Manchester United goes under the microscope ahead of their trip to Norwich. Plus, Steven Gerrard goes back to Anfield for the first time as a manager, when Aston Villa face Liverpool. We look at his start in the Midlands and that romantic return.PART 2 | Leicester host Newcastle on Sunday, with Eddie Howe looking to land back-to-back wins for the Magpies. We assess their chances of doing that. Plus, after Everton’s last-gasp win over Arsenal, we build up to their Super Sunday clash with Crystal Palace and debate what Rafa Benitez must do to build on that victory. PART 3 | We preview the Friday Night Football clash between Brentford and Watford, which starts a pivotal run of games for Claudio Ranieri’s side, and also take a look at Chelsea’s recent drop in form.

Alice Piper is joined by Sky Sports’ senior journalists Peter Smith and Richard Morgan, and digital journalist Jack Wilkinson, to dissect another eventful round of Premier League action.PART 1 | After Chelsea let a two-goal lead slip at the West Ham, the panel assess how injuries and mistakes are just starting to catch up with Thomas Tuchel’s side, while sparing a word for the superb job David Moyes’ continues to do with his top-four chasing Hammers. PART 2 | Defeat at the London Stadium left the door open to Chelsea’s title rivals, and by the time Saturdays was over, the former league leaders were down in third. After his winner at Molineux, Richard Morgan analyses the impact cult hero Divock Origi has had throughout his spell at Liverpool, before Peter Smith casts his eye over another Bernardo Silva-inspired for champions Man City.PART 3 | Sunday saw the dawn of a new era at Man Utd as Ralf Rangnick claimed his first victory at interim boss against Crystal Palace. Jack Wilkinson explains why there were early signs of encouragement that the Old Trafford club may just be heading in the right direction.

Peter Smith is joined by Sky Sports News Midlands reporter Rob Dorsett, features writer Nick Wright and football journalist Oliver Yew to look ahead to the Premier League weekend. PART 1 | Rob Dorsett discusses Steven Gerrard’s impact at Aston Villa, the club’s ambitious plans, and the reasons behind Leicester’s underwhelming start to the season. PART 2 | Nick Wright assesses the problems facing Rafa Benitez at Everton and what Mikel Arteta must do to get a misfiring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back in form.PART 3 | Oliver Yew reflects on Bernardo Silva’s brilliant performances for Manchester City, the strength in depth at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, and whether there’s a chance of an upset at Watford.